What is “Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Extract” and what is its function?

Cotton is the plant fibre that surrounds the seeds of the cotton plant, a shrub in the Malvaceae family. This fibre is made of cellulose and is spun into yarn to produce fabric. The cotton plant grows in arid tropical and subtropical regions. It can reach 10 metres in height under optimal sun exposure.

Several species and varieties of cotton exist:

• The Gossypium arboreum and the Gossypium herbaceum, the most common short-fibre species used in skincare;

• The Gossypium barbadense, a Peruvian variety introduced to Egypt and cultivated worldwide. It is valued for the length and quality of its fibres;

• The Gossypium hirsutum which is native to South America.

In cosmetics, cotton is used in three main forms:vegetable oil (Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil), thecellular extract or native plant cells (Gossypium Arboreum Leaf Cell Extract), and the plant extract (Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Extract) discussed in this article.

The seed extract of the cotton plant is obtained by macerating the seeds in water and glycerine followed by microwave extraction, a filtration, a pH adjustment with a potassium sorbate solution (potassium salt of sorbic acid) and finally a filtration.

With a dark yellow colour, cotton seed extract is rich in active compounds, mainly fatty acids and flavonoids. It contains glycosides, steroids, saponins, resins, carbohydrates, proteins, phenolic compounds, and tannins. This plant-derived ingredient is water soluble.

Suitable for all skin types, cotton plant extract is recognised for its softening, soothing, conditioning and regenerating properties.